Cool Stuff

Empire Avenue, affectionately called “The Avenue” (https://www.empireavenue.com) is best described as a “Social Media stock market”. It’s currency (eaves) are invested, earned, issued, and paid in developing an Empire Avenue stock portfolio that pays dividends daily. Just as valuable is the lasting friendships and great relationships that are developed with other players. Interactions with social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, LinkedIn, YouTube, among others are vastly important in playing the game.

I joined “The Avenue” in 2011. I’ve developed my own strategies over the years and they’ve proven successful. Even though I’ve been active on the Leader Board and acquired much wealth in eaves, I remind myself that it’s only a game. And it’s how you play the game that really matters.

The primary opportunities that Empire Avenue offers is exposure to new and interesting people from all walks of life and developing enjoyable/rich relationships established within the platform of Social Media.

It’s really a fun game once you find your niche’ and get the hang of it. There’s no overnite success, so patience is required. Have fun! Personally, I invest heavily in players that are active and have higher-paying dividends. I have a rich portfolio which gets tweaked periodically. The Avenue offers several tools which allow you to navigate players on the market and purge your portfolio. Another tactic is to create missions yourself, and complete missions developed by other players. We’re big on badges. The “Mission” badge is a sure sign of an active player, and the “premium member” badge indicates a passion for the game beyond that of the average player. The “EA Leader” badge is also a sure sign of those committed to advancing The Avenue and seeing it advance and grow.

I’m also an “EA Leader” (cperky). It refers to those Empire Avenue players who have invested $100 into the EA Leaders benefit package and are identified by the EA Leaders badge on their profile page. There are benefits in becoming a leader as it relates to double dividends, bonus eaves, a unique Leaders Shop among others. I highly recommend becoming a Leader for the additional benefits. There’s a strong sense of community and the bond of shared experiences. It’s well worth the money.

I enjoy helping others to acquire wealth, learn and grow. I’ve always answered questions about the game. I’ve maxed in many players who have not reciprocated, but it’s about collaborating, friendships and playing the game that’s important to me.

Like anything else, the game has it’s challenges. It’s comprised of people from all over the world and walks of life. Find space or a community that’s comfortable for you. One thing is for sure, there is always someone to help you find your way around the Avenue. Sure, I’ve been successful and around for a bit. But, I don’t have all the answers and I’m constantly in this learning mode. Knowledge is power. Remember, the game is about collaboration. You want people to interact with your posts (comments, likes, re-posts and shares will factor into your scores). If you do this, you will become successful.

Here’s a short video the will further amplify life on The Avenue.

Empire Avenue is a wonderful place to navigate. There is something about the Empire Avenue community of active members that makes helping and bonding with other members fun! Many more blog posts (all related to Empire Avenue) can be found collected at the following website address:https://www.empireavenue.com/community/page/discuss?c=4248&d=62067871

This month, as we celebrate Father’s Day, I have a message for all fathers: Your children need you.

Yes, their mothers may be capable of doing without you. Those women who courageously take on the challenge of being both mother and father are deserving of respect and appreciation for their efforts. But it’s important to not confuse your children’s ability to survive in your absence with their need to thrive in your presence. You must reject the commonly accepted notion that while motherhood is necessary, fatherhood is optional, superfluous, a luxury reserved only for a fortunate few children. My challenge to fathers is to show up, step up, and man up.

Now, before you jump to the conclusion that this message is aimed solely at absentee fathers and deadbeat dads, let me be clear—there is more than one way to be absent from your child’s life. Too many of us are missing in action as fathers for what seem like perfectly sensible reasons in the moment. After all, time is scarce and the demands on your schedule and attention can seem endless. You can’t make it to your son’s basketball game because you have to take that late afternoon flight to the West Coast to close the deal that will help you to provide for his needs. And what about your daughter’s junior prom—wait—that was last week? You totally forgot to put it on your calendar, but no worries—you’ll be there for the real prom next year. Besides, the extra money you made on your side business is what paid for her prom gown. So what if, because of the long hours you put in, you barely see your children during the week and you’re too tired or in need of relaxation to pay attention to them on the weekends? After all, you’re doing it all for them, right?

But here’s the challenge: When all is said and done, neither you nor your children will remember that big business deal you closed in Los Angeles, or the cost of that prom gown. What they will remember is whether or not you showed love and appreciation for them, and made the sacrifices to be engaged in their lives, both for special occasions and on a day-to-day basis. It’s not about how many points your son scores or whether or not you like your daughter’s prom date. It’s about you being present. Love is showing up.

Love is also stepping up. Far too many people in business see their family and their careers as competing aspects of their lives. I don’t. I believe that the pursuit of your ambitions, whether as an entrepreneur or in a professional career, is critical to creating opportunities that can help you provide for and improve the quality of life for your family. But your children should not be neglected in the pursuit of business and career success. Rather, they should have equal standing in your approach to your life. Stepping up as a father means incorporating them into your life so that they are not competition, but constant motivation for achieving your goals. That may mean sacrificing opportunities, other activities, and even money in exchange for time with your children.

Finally, being a present father may require you to man up—especially if you are struggling financially or if you have an unhealthy or nonexistent relationship with the mother(s) of your children. Despite the legal, emotional, and financial challenges, we need fathers to make the sacrifices and put in the extra effort to overcome them and to be present for their children—even though they themselves may not appreciate your efforts in that moment. In such circumstance, your children need a hero—someone who shows up and comes through for them, no matter what.

Up until they start earning a living, and sometimes well beyond that, kids are apt to spend money like it grows on trees. This lesson will help you put your children on the road to handling money responsibly.

Long before most children can add or subtract, they become aware of the concept of money. Any 4-year-old knows where their parents get money – the ATM, of course. Understanding that parents must work for their money requires a more mature mind, and even then, the learning process has its wrinkles. For example, once he came to understand that his father worked for a living, a 5-year-old asked, “How was work today?” “Fine,” the father replied. The child then asked, “Did you get the money?”

2. Once they learn how money works, children often display an instinctive conservatism.

Instant gratification aside, once they learn they can buy things they want with money – e.g., candy, toys – many children will begin hoarding every nickel they can get their hands on. How this urge is channeled can determine what kind of financial manager your child will be as an adult.

3. Seeds planted early bear fruit later.

It’s important to work on your child’s financial awareness early on, for once they’re teenagers, they are less likely to heed your sage advice. Besides, they’re busy doing other things – like spending money.

4. An allowance can be an effective teaching tool.

When your kids are young, giving them small amounts of money helps them prepare for the day when the numbers will get bigger.

5. Teenagers and college-age kids have bigger responsibilities.

Checking accounts, credit cards and debt are as elemental to the college experience as books and keg parties. Teaching high-schoolers about banking and credit will make them more savvy when they leave the nest.

6. Even investing should be learned early.

High schoolers can and should be taught about the market – using real money.

There’s no one-size-fits-all resume template. Just as you should tailor your resume for each position you’re applying to, your resume should be appropriate for your job field as well.

US News offers several tips for customizing your resume according to your profession. For example, while most business resumes should have a traditional structure, sales and marketing jobs can use bolder, more promotional language (since that’s the nature of the job). Creative jobs should focus more on projects—key design and creative elements from each assignment—and can showcase your eye for design, with the caveat that too much design can trip up resume screening programs. In those cases, you might just link to your online portfolio with more examples of your work.

And if you’re applying for a tech job:

Unlike the numerical focus of business résumés, the résumé of someone who works in technology should demonstrate proficiency with a variety of programs that pertain to the job. “For technical résumés, the section of technologies could be pretty long so, again, we want it to be palatable to the reader so you can break it down into categories,” Cohen says. “Instead of having 30 or 40 technologies listed, break it down by software, or hardware, or languages, or applications, or networks or however you want to do it that makes sense for your particular industry.” If the technology section is still too long, consider adding an addendum that demonstrates the full range of technologies you’re competent using.

Hit up the link below for more resume-crafting advice. In general, just make sure you’ve got a strategy to go along with your strong resume.

By now, most of us know about Google Glass. It’s a wearable computer with a head-mounted display that kind of looks like a pair of eyeglasses. You can take pictures, record video, get directions, send messages, share what you’re looking at and much more. It comes in multiple colors, and let’s face it — it’s neater than Jell-O. We all want to test drive a pair.

But from a business perspective, we have to view Google Glass (and similar kinds of wearable tech) a little differently. Despite the fact that Google Glass is not yet available to the public, several types of businesses — including restaurants, bars, night clubs, casinos and theaters — have already banned it from their premises.

Eric B. Meyer, a partner in the labor and employment group at the law firm of Dilworth Paxson LLP and author of the blog The Employer Handbook, sees other industries that might be impacted by Glass. “In industries and businesses where confidentiality or privacy is paramount, such as healthcare, financial services, legal, government — I can envision workplace rules specifically banning Google Glass.”

Part of the reason businesses will view Google Glass differently is the recording feature, says Heather Bussing, an employment attorney and contributor at the HR Examiner. “When everything someone sees can be recorded without other people knowing, it makes people uncomfortable. At worst, it is illegal since many states require consent before you record someone. At best, it’s bad manners.”

Google Glass Might Benefit Your Business

Before deciding to completely ban Google Glass, companies might want to evaluate if their business can benefit from using it. Meyer suggests some companies might embrace Google Glass for marketing purposes. “Real-time sharing could entice others to use the same products or service. An amusement park or ski resort, for example, may want to broadcast the customer experience.”

It’s also possible that Google Glass could benefit employees. For example, Google Glass could enhance department meetings because there would be a live recording of the discussion and decision-making process. It might create new opportunities for employee training and professional development. “It’s another way to communicate that we haven’t even begun to figure out,” Bussing says.

Wearable Tech Policy

Regardless of whether it benefits or challenges your company, Google Glass, like all new technologies, will test us. Companies will have to define what Google Glass means for their business and their employees. They will have to establish some decorum when it comes to wearable tech. Bussing reminds us, “Most companies don’t have a ‘do not record people in the bathroom’ policy. So it will be a good idea to establish some etiquette — at the very least, on what spaces are private and what are public.”

Meyer also mentions one area that companies will definitely want to address — employee safety. For example, West Virginia proposed an amendment to ban drivers from wearing Google Glass on the road. If companies have employees who drive as part of their regular duties, it will be important to specifically address driving, distractions and safety.

Another topic of focus will be confidentiality and trade secrets. Bussing believes, “Google Glass will get us focused on privacy and considering others across all technologies because there’s something about recording others so easily without their knowledge that crosses a line. Companies want to consider defamation, posting video of others without their permission, and protecting trade secrets and confidential information.”

Check Current Policies

Bussing says the good news is many of the workplace laws we currently have in place may already address the matter. “Laws like HIPAA, FMLA and ADA protect against ‘disclosures’ and require confidentiality of health information. It doesn’t matter how the information is collected, stored, or disclosed — it’s covered by the laws already.”

As more individuals start trying out the cool new Google Glass, businesses must become aware of the ways in which Google Glass could be used intentionally, or perceived by others, to violate employment laws. Then Meyer recommends “educating and training employees as well as managers in these areas.”

Do you know anyone who is beta testing Google Glass? What pros and cons do you see for employers? Let us know your thoughts.

Like this:

A client’s dog was under her bed growling and snapping at her when she reached for him. “What happened?” I asked with concern. Well, she had tried to reassure her dog that fireworks were nothing to be afraid of by carrying him outside and showing them to him. In an effort to help her dog she, from the dog’s point of view, completely betrayed him, taking him right into the proverbial firing line. He wanted nothing more to do with her until the booming stopped.

This dog is not alone; fireworks can terrify any dog. They may startle at first but a few more bangs and that startle grows into real fear. Dogs can then be beyond our comforting, needing more help than our good word to cope with the 4th of July. Here are 7 steps to help your dog stay safer and calmer during this next Big Bang:

1) Keep Your Dog Home for the Holiday
Dogs who are normally calm in the car or happy on the back porch can rip into upholstery and bolt through screens (even windows) when terrified. Home sweet home applies for this week.

2) Keep a Handle on Him Outside
Use a leash for all walks when the explosions start. Walk your dog early so you don’t have to take him out once the fireworks begin. You can easily make matters worse and he’ll probably be too frightened to potty anyway. Even if your yard is fenced keep him on leash. Terrified dogs can bolt and do things you aren’t expecting like dive under your house or through a gate. If your dog has ever slipped his collar, get a Martingale Collar. These cannot be slipped when fitted properly and will prevent this from happening again.

3) Mete out melatonin
Dr. Aronson of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine recommends melatonin for sound-sensitive dogs. I used it for many years with my Australian Shepherd, Caras, and found it calmed him several levels without sedating him. In a perfect world, you give it before the sound starts but that is not always possible. I kept both liquid and 1 mg pills in the house, dosing with liquid, the most fast acting if the sound had already started then dosing the next time with plain melatonin pills.* Always check with your dog’s veterinarian to see what is right for your dog in your situation.

Here’s what I have been told the doses are:

1 mg for dogs under 10 pounds,
1.5 mgs for dogs 10-25 pounds
3 mgs for dogs weighing 25-100 pounds
Up to 6 mgs for over 100 pounds but start with 3 mgs as that may work.

4) Try a Thundershirt
Steady, deep pressure can be calming and the Thundershirt applies that steady, even pressure. As with everything to do with anxiety and fear, I’ve seen this work on some dogs and not on others. I think of it as a good “worth a try” product. If it helps, it is easy to do. For dogs who are truly sound terrified, I look for any and all products that make any difference at all then use the best combination I can come up with.

5) Block the Booms!
Masking the sound is worth a try and can keep the smallest bursts from bothering your dog. You can leave on a radio or TV but that sound can ebb at just the wrong moment. For years I used a White Noise Machine and have put it to good use with sound-stressed dogs.
Covering the crate is worth trying. There is even a product made for this situation, though I’ve had no experience with it yet and it has not been reviewed: Taylor Made Thunderhut Crate Cushion Cover.

6) Fire up the pheromones
Dog Appeasing Pheromones (D.A.P.) mimics the scent of the mother dog. This can be calming for some dogs. Seen it help some and not others, which puts it in the category with Rescue Remedy.

7) Dole out drugs
Talk to your dog’s veterinarian now. Believe me, he or she is fielding this question daily this time of year! My vets have always recommended Benadryl as a first option. I’ve used it with dozens of dogs over many, many years with good effect but, as always, speak with your vet.

Herbal calmatives are worth a try as well. There are many great products on the market. Here are some top-rated ones for dogs: Calming Aids

Good luck! When you have a sound-sensitive dog, the 4th of July hardly feels like Independence Day. It’s more “lock yourself in the house and wait for it to be over day”. If it’s that for you, know you are in very good company. Dog lovers around the US will be sitting with their shaking, quaking dogs.

What works for your dog is likely to be a special combo, unique to you both. And my opinion? If it works, do it! And be happy July 4th is but once a year.

* Elizabeth Gaul of Puppy Prep School in Cincinnati, Ohio suggests checking to be sure the melatonin used to 100% melatonin with no sweeteners that can be dangerous to your dog. Just 100% plain melatonin pills or liquid. Again, check with your dog’s vet if you have questions or concerns.